Security Door Breach Training System

ABSTRACT

A security door breach training system comprising a frame, a door attached to the frame, a latch attached to the door having a latching end, a plurality of first elongate members fixed to the frame, at least one retaining pin adjacent to the frame, a latch-receiving member positioned between the frame member and the stub of the at least one retaining pin, a second elongate member having a first end attached to the third surface of the frame member and a free second end, the second elongate member in contacted with the latch-receiving member; and at least one bar attached between two of the first elongate members.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This original application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 61/727,987, filed Nov. 19, 2012 andentitled Security Door Breach Training System, which is incorporated byreference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to training devices for public-safety andmilitary personnel. More specifically, the present invention is a doorbreach training system that allows such personnel to quickly andefficiently train for forced-entry scenarios involving burglar bardoors.

2. Description of the Related Art

Both public-safety and military personnel are often faced with the needto perform a forced entry into structures. A forced entry can be, andoften is, a life-threatening scenario during which every second counts.Shaving seconds from the operation can mean the difference betweenlife-saving tactical surprise and life-ending ambush. Knowledge of andtraining with the variations in door-breaching techniques, howeverslight, as well as practice and conditioning for the door breachingoperation, are vital to a tactical situation.

One particular problem that public safety and military personnel mayencounter is with security doors, which may also be referred to as a“burglar bar door.” Security doors are generally installed over theregular doors to a building, and are designed to help preventunauthorized entry into the building. Security doors generally include adoor member mounted to a frame. The frame is then mounted with lag boltsto a structure, such as the wooden door frame of the door over which thesecurity door is mounted.

Security doors typically come in two basic types. One type is anopenwork steel door, which looks like wrought iron and has a temperedglass back panel. The second type looks like a regular wooden orfiberglass door, but is actually made of steel with sturdy side fixings.A security screen door can be added for an additional level of safety. Asecurity door does not have to be only external; for example, they canbe used to protect panic rooms, escape routes, basements or vaults.

In effect, the presence of a security door at a targeted breach sitepresents a unique set of difficulties associated with the breach. Forexample, a security door means two breaches must be performed: first abreach of the security door, and then a breach of the door it protects.

Because these difficulties can be recreated, however, breachingpersonnel can train in advance for such breaches. Accordingly, arealistic and lower cost security door breach training system would wellserve those who perform emergency or law enforcement-related doorbreaching operations. Such a system would also benefit civilians whoselives often depend on such operations (e.g., entrapped victims andhostages) by providing a cost-effective, quickly-repeatable alternativemeans of training for door breach operations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention replicates scenarios in which trainees encounter abuilding entrance with a security door in use with a typical exteriordoor, and allows a trainee to replicate the breach of such an entrancein a cost-effective manner. The system reduces the expense of supplyingactual doors, which are destroyed after each breach.

The present invention comprises a frame having a frame member with afirst surface defining a frame volume, a second surface opposite saidfirst surface, and a third surface adjacent to said first surface andsaid second surface; a door attached to the frame; a latch attached tothe door, said latch having a latching end; a plurality of firstelongate members having a first end fixed to said frame and a freesecond end; at least one retaining pin adjacent to the first surface,said at least one retaining pin comprising an elongate body having afirst end and an opposing second end, a socket extending from said bodyproximal to said first end, and a stub extending from said body proximalto the second end; a latch-receiving member positioned between saidframe member and said stub of said at least one retaining pin, saidlatch-receiving member having surface defining a hole opening towardsaid latching end; a second elongate member having a first end attachedto said third surface of said frame member and a free second end, saidsecond elongate member in contacted with said latch-receiving member;and at least one bar attached between two of said first elongatemembers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the latch and latch-receiving mechanism ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of some of the elements shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of various elements of the latch-receivingmechanism and the first beam of the frame of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the latch and latch-receiving mechanism ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in a post-breach state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment 20 of the invention includes a door 22attached to a door frame 24. The door 22 comprises two long beams 26, 28having ends connected to the ends of two short beams 30, 32 to define arectangular door space. Center beams 34, 36 are positioned within thedoor space and extend between the two long beams 26, 28.

The frame 24 includes opposing first and second long frame beams 40, 42and opposing first and second short frame beams 44, 46 connected todefine a generally rectangular framed volume. Door offsets 48 extendfrom the long frame beams 40, 42. The door 22 is attached at one side ofthe frame 24 with hinges 50, which are fixed to the offsets 48. Thefirst long beam 40 has an inside surface 52 partially defining theframed volume.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rectangular latch plate 54 is attached (e.g.,welded) to the center beams 34, 36 and one of the long beams 26. A canebolt 56 is slidably attached to the latch plate 54 with brackets 58. Thecane bolt 56 is movable between a first position in which a latching endof the bolt 56 extends past the long beam 26 in a first direction D1,and a second position (not shown) in which the bolt 56 does not extendpast the long beam 26. The cane bolt 56 is latchable with alatch-receiving member, such as a length of square tubing 60 in a fixedposition relative to the beam 40. A hole 61 is disposed through a sideof the square tubing 60 and aligned with the latching end of the canebolt 56 such that the hole volume intersects with the bolt 56 in thefirst position.

Referring to FIGS. 3-4, elongate capture members 62 a-d are fixed to andextend away from the first frame beam 40 in a second direction D2, whichis perpendicular to the first direction D1. Each of the elongate members62 a-d is generally shaped as a rectangular bar and has a fixed end 64attached (e.g., welded) to the inside surface 52 of the first frame beam40 and a free end 66 distal from the frame beam 40. The capture members62 a-d have cylindrical holes 68 disposed therethrough proximal to thefree end, with the axes of holes extending parallel to the firstdirection D1.

Four elongate clevis members 70 a-d extend from the frame beam 40 in thesecond direction D2. Each clevis member 70 a-d is generally shaped as arectangular bar and has a fixed end 72 attached to the first frame beam40 and a free end 74 distal from the frame beam 40. First and secondclevis members 70 a-b are fixed to the inside surface 52, while thirdand fourth clevis members 70 c-d are fixed to an opposing outer surface53 (see FIG. 4).

Each clevis member 70 a-d has a cylindrical first hole 76 and acylindrical second hole 78 disposed therethrough. The first hole 76 ispositioned between the second hole 78 and the fixed end 72 of therespective clevis member 70 a-d. First holes 76 and second holes 78 ofthe first and third clevis members 70 a, 70 c are axially aligned. Firstholes 76 and second holes 78 of the second and fourth clevis members 70b, 70 d are axially aligned.

A rectangular tubular member 82 is fixed to a third planar surface 83 ofthe first frame beam 40. The tubular member 82 has a square notch 84opposite the side adjacent to and in contact with the outward surface83. Identically-shaped first and second plates 86, 88 are attached toand extend from the tubular member 40 in the first direction D1. Theplates 86, 88 are attached proximal to ends of the notch 84. Apartially-tubular member 89 has a first portion 90 fitted in the notch94 and a second portion 92 between the first and second plates 86, 88.The second portion 92 has first and second lips 94, 96 extending inward.A wood support 97 is positioned in the slot defined by thepartially-tubular member 89, and is inhibited from movement in thesecond direction D2 by the lips 94, 96.

A cylindrical body 98 has an end fixed to the third surface 83 of thefirst beam 40 on one side of the tubular member 82. The body 98 islonger than the depth of the tubular member 82 and extendsperpendicularly from the third surface 83 past the tubular member 82 inthe second direction D2.

Four sockets 99 are disposed in the first beam 40. Each socket 99 has astar-shaped hole 101 disposed therethrough.

Referring back to FIG. 2, four retaining pins 100 are fixed to theinside surface 52 of the first beam 40. As shown in FIG. 2A, eachretaining pin 100 is identical and comprises an elongate member 102having a first end 104 and an opposing second end 106, a large socket108 proximal to the first end 104, and a stub 110 proximal to the secondend 106. The stub 110 extends from the elongate member 102 in anopposite direction relative to the corresponding socket 108. The socket108 includes a hole disposed therethrough and aligned with the sockets99 disposed through the surface 52 (see FIGS. 3-4) of the beam 40.

Pins 200 extend through the socket holes to fasten the retaining pins100 to the frame beam 40. Preferably the pins 200 are made of unfilledpolycarbonate with a known shear strength. Examples of some types ofsuitable pins are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,988.

The square tubing 60 is in contact with the cylindrical body 98 and thelatching end of the bolt 56 is disposed through the hole. The squaretubing 60 is inhibited from movement away from rectangular tubing member82 in the second direction D2 by a first pin 112 disposed through thesecond holes 78 of the first and third clevis members 70 a, 70 c, asecond pin 114 disposed through the second holes 78 of the second andfourth clevis members 70 b, 70 d, and the stubs 110 of retention pins100. Movement of the square tubing 60 is further inhibited by the pins100 and clevis members 70 a, 70 c in a third direction D3 and by clevismembers 70 b, 70 d in the first direction D1.

Movement of the retaining pins 100 in the third direction D3 isinhibited by a first retention bar 116 fastened to the first and secondcapture members 62 a, 62 b, and a second retention bar 118 fastened tothe third and fourth capture members 62 c, 62 d. The first and secondretention bars 116, 118 are fixed to the respective capture members 62a-d with bolts aligned with and extending through holes 68 (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 2, the embodiment 20 is oriented with the first framebeam 40 being perpendicular to the surrounding ground surface. Thesquare tubing 60 rests on the cylindrical body 98 under the force ofgravity and is inhibited from movement by pins 112, 114, stubs 110,retaining pins 100, and rectangular tubing 82.

Thereafter, a trainee may insert a blade of a pry bar between the squaretubing 60, which serves as an analogue for a typical burglar bar doorframe, and the rectangular tubing 82, with the end of the pry bar incontact with the support 97. Thereafter, by rotating the handle of thetool in a first rotational direction RD1, force is applied to the squaretubing 60 in a generally outward direction. Because movement of thesquare tubing 60 is inhibited at various positions away from theforce-application point, the tubing 60 bends outward and exerts outwardforces on the stubs 110 of the retaining pins 100 and pins 112, 114.With continued application of force, the pins 200 may bend or break,simulating forced removal of bolts attaching a burglar bar door frame tothe surrounding mounting structure (e.g., wood door frame). Thisterminates the fixed connection between the retaining pins 100 and thebeam 40 and allowing outward displacement of the retaining pins 100until the sockets 108 come into contact with the retaining bars, asshown in FIG. 5. The outward bend of the tubing 60 allows the latch toegress from the hole 61 disposed in the square tubing 60, and the doorto swing freely relative frame beam 40.

In addition to the configuration described supra, the system may be setup in a number of other configurations to tailor the system to varioustraining situations. For example, the strength of the pins 200 may bechanged to simulate different lengths of bolts used to attach a burglarbar door frame (simulated by square tubing 60) to a corresponding doorframe. Specifically, stronger pins 200 simulate a use of longer bolts toattach the burglar bar door frame to the wood frame, whereas weaker pins200 simulate the use of shorter bolts.

In addition, less than four of the retaining pins 100 a-d may beattached to the frame beam 40 with pins 200. In a first alternativeconfiguration, only the inner retaining pins 100 b-c may be attached tothe frame beam 40 with pins 200. In a second alternative configuration,only the outer retaining pins 100 a, 100 d may be attached the beam 40with pins 200, which will result in more bend in the square tubing 60prior to failure of the pins 200 relative to the first alternativeconfiguration. In yet a third alternative configuration, the retainingpins 100 a-d are not be fixed to the beam 40, meaning that the onlyresistance to the breach results from the trainee's ability to bend theburglar bar door frame analogue—i.e., the square tubing 60.

The position of the pins 112, 114 disposed through the clevis membersmay also affects the training parameters. Specifically, the distance ofthe pins 112, 114 relative to the fore-application point on the squaretubing 60 affects the degree to which the square tubing may be bentduring a simulated breach.

Ultimately, a force may be applied by the trainee to cause failure ofone or more of the elements and terminate the fixed relationship betweenthe door 22 and the mechanism by the cane bolt 56, allowing the door 22to open outwardly. Repeated prying action as described above may causethe support 97 to fail, in which case the support 97 may be removed frominside the partially-tubular member 89 and replaced.

The embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other trainingdoors. For example, the embodiment 20 may be positioned outward of anembodiment of the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,988, issuedApr. 12, 2005 to Phillips, and which is incorporated by referenceherein. If used in conjunction with such a door, following breach of theembodiment 20 as described above, the trainee would then need to breachthe door of the '988 patent, providing a realistic training device forpreparing to enter a residential structure that includes a burglar door.

The present invention is described in terms of a preferred illustrativeembodiment of a specifically described door breach training system andalternative embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat alternative constructions of such a system can be used in carryingout the present invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosureand the drawings, along with the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A security door breach training system comprising: a framehaving a frame member with a first surface defining a frame volume, asecond surface opposite said first surface, and a third surface adjacentto said first surface and said second surface; a door attached to theframe; a latch attached to the door, said latch having a latching end; aplurality of first elongate members having a first end fixed to saidframe and a free second end; at least one retaining pin adjacent to thefirst surface, said at least one retaining pin comprising an elongatebar having a first end and an opposing second end, a socket extendingfrom said body proximal to said first end, and a stub extending fromsaid body proximal to the second end; a latch-receiving memberpositioned between said frame member and said stub of said at least oneretaining pin, said latch-receiving member having surface defining ahole opening toward said latching end; a second elongate member having afirst end attached to said third surface of said frame member and a freesecond end, said second elongate member in contacted with saidlatch-receiving member; and at least one bar attached between two ofsaid first elongate members.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein saidsocket of said at least one retaining member is in contact with said atleast one bar.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least oneretaining pin is attached to said frame member with at least onereplaceable pin member having a known shear strength.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising tubular member positioned between said thirdsurface of said frame and said latch-receiving member, said tubularmember having a first side fixed to said frame member and a second sideopposing said first side defining a notched volume.
 5. The system ofclaim 4 further comprising a support member occupying at least a portionof said notched volume.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said pluralityof first elongate members comprises: a plurality of capture membershaving a first end fixed to said first surface of said frame member anda second free end; at least first one clevis member having a first endfixed to said first surface of said frame member and a second free end;and at least one second clevis member having a first end fixed to saidsecond surface of said frame member and a second free end.